C major scale
No sharps or flats — all white keys · pattern W–W–H–W–W–W–H
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Half steps from C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Tonic | 0 |
| 2 | D | Supertonic | 2 |
| 3 | E | Mediant | 4 |
| 4 | F | Subdominant | 5 |
| 5 | G | Dominant | 7 |
| 6 | A | Submediant | 9 |
| 7 | B | Leading tone | 11 |
About this scale
The major scale is the reference every other scale is compared with. C major’s notes also form the chords I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi and vii° of the key — the backbone of most songs in C.
Relative key: A minor.
Seventh chords in C major scale
Imaj7 Cmaj7ii7 Dm7iii7 Em7IVmaj7 Fmaj7V7 G7vi7 Am7viiø7 Bm7♭5
Other C scales
C natural minorC harmonic minorC melodic minorC major pentatonicC minor pentatonicC bluesC DorianC Mixolydian
Major scale in other keys
Questions
What are the notes of the C major scale?
C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and back to C.
How many sharps or flats are in C major scale?
None — it uses only natural notes (the white keys).
What is the step pattern of the major scale?
W–W–H–W–W–W–H, where W is a whole step (two keys) and H is a half step (the next key). Start that pattern on C to get this scale.
What is the relative minor of C major?
A minor. Both scales use the same notes but start on a different tonic.